Credits

SACRAMENTO - California environmental officials moved ahead with a first-ever auction of greenhouse gas pollution credits despite a last-minute lawsuit filed by the state Chamber of Commerce to invalidate the sale. On Wednesday state Air Resources Board technicians worked at computer terminals to take bids from some major industrial facilities such as cement plants, steel mills, refineries and food processors. Many companies that emit carbon dioxide, methane and other gases that contribute to global warming were expected to participate in the three-hour sale of so-called cap-and-trade credits.

A late-night comment by Albert Pujols after a 3-2 victory Monday shed some light on a problem that plagued the Angels during their dismal April and may have contributed to the firing of hitting coach Mickey Hatcher in May. "One thing we've been doing is we're really communicating well — that's something we weren't doing," Pujols said after the Angels improved to 15-4 since May 22 and moved to within 21/2 games of Texas in the American League...

July 25, 2012 | By Nicole Sperling, Los Angeles Times, This post has been corrected. See note below for details

Tom Sherak never would have been elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences if it weren't for the late Frank Pierson and a verbal spat that almost turned physical. It was early 2009, and Pierson and Sherak were at loggerheads at a Board of Governors meeting over a financing issue. The talk was getting contentious, so much so that Sherak said he thought the octogenarian screenwriter "could have beaten the crap out of me. " Then-academy President Sid Ganis threw the discussion to committee to avoid more arguing.

I object to the TV news media cutting in on the credits at the end of a movie or series to advertise the news program to follow. Sometimes I like to find out the name of an actor or actress that appeared in the movie or where it was made. Olga Mitchell, Whittier

Lauren Conrad is best known for her starring turn on the MTV reality series "The Hills," but she also has multiple bestsellers to her credit. In addition to her TV work, she's the author of "The Fame Game" and the "L.A. Candy" series of novels. She's also a clothing designer who last year published the fashion guide "Lauren Conrad Style. " This October, she offers a companion guide, "Lauren Conrad Beauty" (HarperCollins: 288 pp.: $21.99, ages 14 and up), in which she teaches women of all ages how to be the best versions of themselves with tips on hair and skin care, diet, exercise and makeup.

I read the article "Pollution-Credit Trading May Mushroom" (July 19) about a proposal for cash and futures trading of industrial pollutants with a mixture of interest and amusement. Will the savvy investor's portfolio include equal shares of acid rain emissions, asbestos and hydrocarbons, hedged with options on hydrochloric acid and radioactive waste? Will he counsel young investors with a single word of advice: phenols? More seriously, I found myself wondering if all the trouble of allocation of discharge credits as well as regulating this proposed pollution market can be offset by greater pollution control than achieved through penalties.

The last of the rain had fallen just before the University of Florida football team began its practice at Aloha Stadium Monday, making the warm morning air stifling and steamy. A long practice ended with wind sprints on the slippery artificial turf, so the Gators were heading for the showers exhausted and dripping with sweat. A couple of the players were asked to stop to talk to a small group of reporters. No time for chit-chat or life stories. Just highlights for the upcoming game.

PARK CITY, Utah - A new title has been added to the list of movie credits that describe jobs few people understand. Move over, gaffer, best boy and second second assistant director, and make room for the "written by" credit on an increasing number of documentary films. "It's a niche within a niche," admits Mark Monroe, one of the best. "There's certainly a lot of discussion about whether it belongs or not. It's a question I get asked five times a day. But no one I've ever worked with has ever had any issue with giving me a writing credit.

Irwin Allen's universe The producer-director was behind these famous disaster flicks and TV series: " Lost in Space" Allen created this 1965-68 CBS series about a stranded space colony family. "The Towering Inferno" This 1974 thriller with Paul Newman and Steve McQueen was a best picture Oscar nominee. "The Swarm" Allen directed this 1978 action-packed monster flick about African bees on the attack.

Movie producer Dick Shepherd, whose credits include "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961), "The Fugitive Kind" (1960) and "Robin and Marian" (1976), probably saved one of the most popular film songs of all time. After a test screening of "Breakfast at Tiffany's," Paramount executive Marty Rackin gathered the creative team and said, "I loved the picture," as recounted in the 2010 Sam Wasson book, "Fifth Avenue, 5 a.m.," about the film. But there was one problem. Rackin hated the plaintive ballad, "Moon River," that star Audrey Hepburn sings in the movie.